Illuminated ball

Abstract

An illuminated game ball for use in playing a game at night. The ball includes a translucent outer wall that can be tinted with various colors, a light with rechargeable power source mounted in the interior of the ball, and an electrical connector mounted substantially flush with the outer surface of the ball that is connected to the power source. When it is desired to illuminate the ball for nighttime play an electrical power source is plugged into the connector for a short time to charge the rechargeable power source which then discharges through the light to illuminate same.

1 . An illuminated game ball, comprising: 
 a hollow body having an interior chamber, the hollow body having an opening that communicates with the interior chamber, and the hollow body is formed of translucent material;    energy storage means in the interior chamber;    a light source in the interior chamber;    an electrical connector mounted in the opening and flush with the surface of the game ball, and used to supply energy to the energy storage means; and 
 wherein energy from the energy storage means causes the light source to be illuminated and seen through the translucent material from which the game ball is formed.  
   
     
     
         2 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the electrical connector is mounted in the opening of the hollow body such that the illuminated game ball is impervious to water.  
     
     
         3 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the energy storage means comprises a capacitor.  
     
     
         4 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         5 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a hollow member inside the hollow body and in which the energy storage means and the light source are positioned.  
     
     
         6 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the hollow member is attached to the opening of the hollow body and the electrical connector is mounted inside and attached to the hollow member such that the illuminated game ball is impervious to water.  
     
     
         7 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the energy storage means comprises a capacitor.  
     
     
         8 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.  
     
     
         9 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising an electrical power source that is connected to the electrical connector to supply electrical energy to the energy storage means.  
     
     
         10 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising an electrical power source that is connected to the electrical connector to supply electrical energy to the energy storage means.  
     
     
         11 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the hollow member is attached to another point of the hollow body to positionally stabilize the energy storage means and light source.  
     
     
         12 . The illuminated game ball in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the energy storage means and light source are preassembled into a module that is inserted into the hollow member after the hollow member is attached to the opening of the hollow body such that the module is approximately located in the middle of the hollow body.